Coaster-vehicle.



GOASTER VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED 13110.13, 1912.

dAug.19,1913.

Patente HARRY F. HENLE, 0F EXCHMND, NDIANA.

COSTER-VEHLE.

Specification of Letters Patent..

Application filed December 18, 1932.

'llatented Aug. i9, Mll

semi no. 736,472.

To all whom z' may concern Be it known that ll, HARRY F. Henner, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Richmond, in the county of Wayne and State ot' lndiana, have invented a new and useful Construction for Coaster-Vehicles, of which the following is a full, clear, and comprehensive specification, being such as will enable others to make and use the same with exactitude.

l This invention relates to a coaster-vehicle, particularly intended for children, in which it is intended that the user will place one of his feet on the carrying surface thereof to support his weight and then use his other toot to propel the vehicle by contacting' it with the ground at the side of the vehicle and pushing the vehicle forward therewith, at the same time guiding the device by his hands with means provided for that purpose.

The object of my invention, broadly speaking, is to provide a coaster-vehicle which will be strong and durable in construction, neat and attractive in appearance, easily operated and controlled, and which can be manufactured. and sold at a conlparatively low price.

A more particular object is to provide a coaster-vehicle which can be easily operated and guided. by a child; in which the bearing or load supporting surface is located below the centers of the ground Wheels; and wherein the guiding thereof is etected to simultaneously turn the forward wheels to one side of a. direct line while the rear wheels will be turned to the opposite side of the direct line, thereby causing the vehicle tobe turned more quickly and with more case than would be the case it only the forward or the rear wheels were turned.

rlfhe more important features ot this invention are: to provide a vehicle in which the load carrying surface is located below the axial bearings; in which both the torward and the rear axles are pivoted; in which the two axles are entirely independent of each other, yet being adapted, when 1n use, to automatically operate or turn exactly opposite to each other; and in which the means are provided for causing the hearing surface to automatically right itself, that is,--causing it lto automatically return to its normal or horizontal position after being released after having been tilted or 'turned to one side.

Other objects and particular features and Figure l is a side elevation of the invention complete and in operative position, the guiding lever being shown erect as in use, while in dotted lines the guiding lever is shown folded. Fig. 2 is a plan view oit' the entire invention, showing the guiding lever as folded in order that it may be carried in small amount of space, Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View, as taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, but taken on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4C is a cross sectional view of the guiding lever, as taken on line 4 4 ot Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a detail rear end elevation of the central portion of the rear axle, and showing the means tor mounting the central rail thereto. ,And Fig. (i is a detail sectional view ot the central portion of the rear axle, saine being taken on the same plane and a short distance :forward of that shown in the preceding View.

Similar indices denote like parts throughout the several views.

ln order that'the construction and the several features of my invention may be better understood and appreciated l will now take up a detailed description thereof, in whichl will set forth the saine as briefly and as comprehensively as l may.

lhe body of the devicecomprises essentially the central rail A, which is simply a channel-iron, having the channel thereof irons C and D being rigidly secured to and extend across the rail 'il to which. they are secured, and the platform B is rigidly secured to each or' said angle-irons by the bolts GMlilmllg and. the bolts hin the rear. iiigirlly to the trent cartier. et the underneath, and having its end portions platform B, also by said bolts (1a-(1, is the bracket E which carries the spaced apart and upwardly extending ears e-e. Pivoted at their lower ends to said ears c-e are the standards F and F', same being spaced' apa.rt,`and whose "lengths are slightly more than is the length of the platform B, however their lengths may be varied as desired in order to meet various conditions.- The said standards are rigidly connected together, near their central portions, by the tie-bolt f. Povited at one end on the tie bolt f, and located between Athe standards F and F, is the brace G. The other end of said brace G is adapted to be detachably secured. tothe forward end portion of the rail A by means of the bolt H which is disposed through an aperture in the rail and having a fly-nut it threaded on its lower end. The forward or lower end of the brace Gr is split or slotted whereby it is adapted to the bolt being loosened to'a considerable extent Yby turning the fly-nut h, the upturned ends or lugs formed on said prongs being designated by letters rj-9.

Letter I denotes the extension for the I standards, and the body portion thereof ts in between the parallel portions of the standards and it is provided with aj flange at each of its corners to extend over the faces of the standards, as shown in Fig. 4, whereby .the extension is adapted to slide between and at all times parallel with the standards throughout its length. The extension I is adapted to be rigidly, and 'detachablyev connected to the standards at variouspoints by means of the bolt J, thereby forming a telescoping means for cont-rol ling the device. The length of said controlling means 'is adapted to be changed by means of the apertures m formed across 4through the extension I into which said bolt J may be changed from one to the other as desired. Secured on the upper end of the extension I is thehorizontal handle-bal' K, forming hand-holds for the operator. Rigidly secured in the channel of the rail A and located near the forward end thereof is the clip l, through the ears or downwardly extending portions of which is lo- Gated the pivot-bolt 2.

Numeral. 3 denotes the front axle, on the end portions of which the traction wheels L and M are rcvolubly mounted. Rigidly secured on thefront axle 3, and-extending The lower or forward parallel therewith, and extending from hubto-hub of said wheels L and M, is the front bolster 4, same having a central upwardly extending head 5 formed integral therewith. Said head 5 has an upper level or horizontal face, the same as the head 5 shown in Fig, 6. Disposed through said head 5, parallel with the rail A, is anaperturethrough which is disposed the pivotbolt 2.

Numeral 6 denotes a cushion, formed of rubber -or the like, same being located in the space between the ends of the clip 1 and 'Numeral 3 denotes the rear axle, on the Y end portions of which the traction wheels' N and O are :evolubly mounted. Rigidly secured on the axle 3, and located parallel therewith and. extending between said wheels, is the rear bolster 4 which has a central upwardly projecting head 5', formed integral therewith. Said head 5 is provided with a level upper face, as shown in Fig. 6.. Also disposed through said head 5., parallel with ihe rail A, is anv aperture through which is disposed the pivot-bolt 2.

Indice 6 denotesa cushion', formed of rubber or the like, same being located in the space between the ends or ears of the clip 1 and the downwardly extending flanges of the rail A, with it-s upper portion seated Y against the base ofthe clip 1 and its lower portion pressing against the upper face of the head 5, as show-n in Fig. 6.

`Withthe above described construction it is evident. that several important results are obtained, to which I desire to call particular attention: The coaster being assembled, as in Fig. 1, the operator has only to place one of hisfeet on the carrying-surface or deck B, then by treading1 with his other foot alternately upon the ground and then lifted and ,carried forward, the coaster may be propelled with considerable sneed, and even up hill and over rough ground. Vhen on a decline the operator may have both of his feet upon the deck and allow the vehicle to travel forward by gravity or of its own momentum The steering of the vehicle is accomplished by simply tilting the decl; either to .the right or the left, which may be done by moving the handlebar to the right or the left, thereby causing the deck to tilt or slope in the direction-one desires to turn. The steering may also' be accomplished by simpl).7 inclining ones weight either to the right or the left, thereby causing the-vehicle to turn in the direction to which ones weight is directed. The tilting of the deck results in turning the axles to oppositely disposed angles with relation to the rail A, for instance: by tipping the deck to the right the forward axle will turn to the right, thereby advancing wheel L and retarding, relatively, wheel M; and at the same time the rear axle will turn to the left, thereby advancing, relatively, the wheel O and retarding wheel N, thereby causing both sets of wheels to contribute to the turningf-causing the front wheels to be directed forward andfto the right While the rear wheels are at the same time directed forward andto the left, that is with relation to the line of travel taken by the vehicle.v Of course if the deck be tilted to the left thenall of said movements will be the reverse of that above stated, thereby causing the vehicle to turn to the left. Another important feature accomplished is that the carryingf surface or deck is comparatively narrow and it is located near the ground-line z, thereby enabling the device to be easily mounted by the operator, and allowing himK to make long and unobstructed strides at the sides of the vehicle. Still another important feature is that of folding, and that of adjusting the height of the means for controlling the direction of travel, as, for instance: the brace G maybe detached from the bolt H and then folded back between the standards, and then the' standards may be turned back to the position indicated the dotted line in Fig. l, which will allow .for the device to changing the be easily carried under ones arm or to be packed or stored in a small compass of space and also bolt J to one or the other of the holes m, the handle-bar may be lowered as required. And, finally, it should be noted that by reason of the cushions 6 and 6', together with the novel means for pivoting the rail A, that the carrying-surface or deck is caused to normally assume a level or horizontal position,l thereby causing the vehicle to normally'assume a direct line of travel. I also desire it to be understood that I am not to be limited to the exact details of construction herein described, but latitude is I given thereto within the scope of the claims her unto appended.

I'laving now .fully Ashown and described means for its construction to me known at this time, claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A coaster vehicle having a horizontal 'ing wheels,

by lowering the extension I,

what I z deck located below the bearings of the carry-l a central rail on the central p0rtion of'whichv said deck is mounted, said rail being formed. with upwardlyl inclined 'end portions, an axle pivoted to each'end por-tw tion of the rail, a carrying wheel mounted. v; on each end of saidI axles, means for nor-l mally retaining said axles at right-angles to.. -said rail and parallel to each other, a standard attached to the forward portion of the 7o vehicle, and a handle-bar carried by thestandard.

2. A coaster vehicle rying surface for supporting a load, a gle central rail on the centralportion having a deck or car-4 sin- 'which said deck is mounted, said rail being4 curved end portions, an 'axle centrally pivoted to each end por# tion of the rail, a traction-wheel mounted on each end of said axles, means for norv mally retaining said axles at right-angles to,4 said rail, and a standard attached to the forward portion of the vehicle..

3. A coaster vehicle having a deck or carrying surface for supporting a load, a single central rail on the central portion of which said deck is mounted,said rail being formed with upwardly curved end portions, an axle centrally pivoted to each end portion ofthe rail, a ground wheel mounted on each end-of said axles, means for normally retaining said axles at right-angles to the rail but allowing them to be turned in directions opposite to each other as the deck is tipped laterally, aV

formed with upwardly v'standard connected to the'forward portion 95 and means whereby said of the vehicle,

folded back parallel with standard may be deck.

4. A coaster rying surface, central portion of which said deck is mounted, saidr'ail being formed with upwardly turned end port-ions, an axle centrally pivoted to each end portion of the rail, a ground vehicle having'a deck or car? wheel mounted on each end of said axles, y

means for normally retaining the axles at right angles to the rail and parallel with eachother, means whereby the vehicle may be guided by causing said axles to' turn-1n directions opposite to each other, means whereby the'standard may be folded, and means for changing the-length of the standard.

In testimony whereof f have hereunto subscribed my name the presence of two subscribing witnesses. HARRY l?. lIHJBNLEY, Witnesses:

ROBERT W. RAND'LE,

' R. E. HANDLE.

a single central rail-on the 100 astandard,

to this specification in 1115 l 

